Bentley Batur Convertible
The first of the Batur Convertibles has been created by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke and special projects division. A true one-off, the exterior of the Batur Convertible is finished in Opalite with Beluga and Mandarin highlights. The interior, co-created with the client’s detailed input, features a unique ‘one plus one’ design where the driver’s cockpit and passenger accommodation are finished in contrasting but complementary colors.
The design of this first Batur Convertible emphasizes the extraordinary performance of its 740 bhp, W12 powertrain. The shimmering silver of the Opalite finish exterior is bisected by a black gloss Batur racing stripe bordered on each side by Mandarin pinstripes. The painted feature racing stripe, embedded seamlessly into the bodywork, begins at the radiator and runs rearwards over the bonnet and cockpit ‘airbridge’ before resuming along the rear deck to the Bentley wings badge. At the rear, these elements are connected by bespoke embroidery in the same formation over the rear Tonneau. The Batur’s distinctive matrix grille is finished in gloss Beluga with Mandarin orange highlights, while the same base and accent shades feature on the five-spoke alloy wheels.
If the exterior of this unique Batur Convertible has echoes of classic sports racing cars, the interior develops the performance theme. Its driver-focused cockpit ‘capsule’ is visually separated from the passenger accommodation by two contrasting colorways: Beluga black on the driver’s side, Linen for the occupant of the passenger seat. Accordingly, the driver’s seat is finished in Beluga black hide and Alcantara, with Mulliner’s Batur pattern picked out on seat bolsters and door inserts in Linen and Mandarin contrast stitching. A band of Mandarin hide encircles the driver, running from the driver’s side of the center console across the fascia instrumentation and continuing seamlessly beneath the door waistrail. In dramatic contrast, the passenger reclines in a sports seat in Linen hide and Alcantara with Mandarin detailing. The Batur pattern detailing on seat and door insert is on a Linen background with Mandarin contrast stitching.
The specification of this Batur Convertible reveals a passion for detail on the part of the commissioning owner, brought to life by the meticulous craftsmanship of the Mulliner team. The fascia and door waistrails are executed in a subtle satin black engine spin finish, with gloss Beluga veneer for the center console. Outer dial bezels are finished in Beluga while the dial faces themselves are finished in light titanium.
Mulliner’s engineering development car – Batur Convertible Car Zero – made its dynamic debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and now travels to the US for Monterey Car Week, where visitors will be able to admire its bespoke duo tone finish in Vermilion Gloss over Vermillion Satin.
Created by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke division and the longest standing coachbuilder in the world, the Batur Convertible is the third car in Mulliner’s Coachbuilt family, following the Bacalar barchetta and the Batur coupé.
Strictly limited to small number of cars, the Batur Convertible retains the most powerful version of Bentley’s iconic W12, with a 740 bhp, hand- assembled 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine.
Mulliner’s in-house design team co-creates every Batur Convertible with its clients, working together through a specially created visualiser that allows any part of the car to be customized in color and surface finish. Like this car, each subsequent Batur Convertible will be as individual as its owner.
McLaren W1 and McLaren 750S Le Mans
The McLaren W1 made its public debut in the Americas at Exotics on Broadway . It will be joined by McLaren’s newest special edition, the McLaren 750S Le Mans and a special States of Endurance Artura Spider.
The McLaren W1 made its global debut in October 2024 and was seen publicly for the first time in the Americas during Monterey Car Week. The W1 is the ground-breaking successor to two of the greatest supercars of all time – the McLaren F1 and McLaren P1TM – and opens a new chapter in McLaren’s famous ‘1’ car lineage. Featuring a V8 hybrid powertrain with 1,275PS – the highest power output of any McLaren ever and greater than all core competitors – the W1 is the fastest-accelerating and fastest-lapping road-legal McLaren ever, achieving the astonishing combination of being quicker than a Speedtail to 300km/h (186mph) in a straight-line and 3 seconds a lap ahead of a McLaren Senna on McLaren’s reference track. Full information on the McLaren W1 can be found here.
Also on display for the first time in the Americas is the McLaren 750S Le Mans, a special edition 750S coupe celebrating the 30th anniversary of McLaren’s 24 Hours of Le Mans win in 1995. Paying homage to the iconic #59 F1 GTR, the 750S Le Mans is offered with a Le Mans Grey exterior paint – the option of McLaren Orange is also available – and features a roof scoop and 5-spoke LM wheels. More exciting is the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) High Downforce Kit (HDK), which adds visual drama to the 750S with a raised carbon fibre Active Rear Spoiler featuring integral endplates. The front bumper features an enlarged carbon fibre splitter, increasing downforce by 10 percent compared to the standard 750S, enhancing track performance and echoing the famous McLaren F1 LM edition’s aerodynamic additions. Completing the HDK package is a new body-colored carbon fibre under-wing panel featuring gloss black louvres. More information can be found here.
The weekend also served as a launch pad for States of Endurance, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of McLaren’s 1995 Le Mans victory that saw road cars – the McLaren Artura Spider and McLaren 750S – drive across the country from Monterey to Miami, roughly the distance covered in the 24hour race, with a variety of stops and engagements along the way. On display at Exotics on Broadway was one of the three road cars – an Artura Spider in a special wrap meant to emulate the daytime driving experience of a 24-hour race. Two 750S supercars also joined the journey, each in its own wrap, one inspired by the dawn, and the other by the night.
McLaren Automotive is a producer of ultra high-performance, lightweight supercars. Launched in 2010, the company is part of McLaren Group Holdings.
Headquartered at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey, England, McLaren Automotive is driven by the challenge of creating the world’s most exhilarating, engaging and benchmark setting vehicles. Leveraging over 60 years of history in authentic, racing performance, McLaren has delivered some of the most spectacular supercars ever made.
The company’s product portfolio of GTS, supercar, Motorsport and Ultimate models are retailed in over 40 markets around the world. Its cars are assembled by hand at the McLaren Production Centre (MPC), based on the same MTC campus that is also the home of McLaren Racing.
BMW X3
We took off to the streets to Dubai to experience the modern and sporty BMW X3. Boasting greater sporting appeal, visual impact, and versatility than ever, the new BMW X3 assumes the mantle of a talented all-rounder for everyday use, leisure activities, and trips away in the brand’s core segment. A new design language gives the fourth generation of the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) for the premium midsize segment much enhanced exterior presence and an aura of dynamic grace. High-quality materials, a far more generous standard specification, advanced digitalization and the new BMW iDrive with QuickSelect based on BMW Operating System 9 set the tone for the premium ambience inside the progressively designed cabin.
The new edition’s aura of modernity and enhanced product substance provide the ideal basis for adding another chapter to the BMW X3 success story – one that first began 20 years ago. Since first establishing the SAV segment in the premium midsize class, it has been instrumental in the steady growth in popularity of the BMW X models and, indeed, became the brand’s best- selling model in 2023.
A new design language for the exterior helps to give the fourth generation of the BMW X3 an almost monolithic overall appearance with distinctive BMW X model proportions. Generously proportioned surfaces combine with just a few, crisply defined lines to produce a clearly structured exterior that has been reduced to the essentials. The new BMW X3 is longer, the width has increased, and together with the drop in vehicle height and wider tracks, it produces a very powerful and sporty look.
The cabin of the new BMW X3 blends robust SAV functionality with ample spaciousness and a premium ambience full of individual style. The BMW Curved Display, BMW Interaction Bar, steering wheels with a flat-bottomed rim, and the new-look gear selector lever are the defining elements of the cockpit’s modern take on hallmark BMW driver-focused design.
The range-topping model, the new BMW X3 186 December 2023 M50 xDrive, features the most powerful six-cylinder in-line petrol engine yet fitted in an M Performance model. The 3.0-litre M TwinPower Turbo unit links up with 48V mild hybrid technology. Its maximum output of 398 hp is channelled to the road via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive. The BMW X3 M50 xDrive powers to 100 km/h from rest in 4.6 seconds.
48V mild hybrid technology also endows all other variants of the new BMW X3 with enhanced efficiency and rapid power delivery. It enables the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit in the new BMW X3 20 xDrive to generate maximum output of 208 hp. This translates into a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 7.8 seconds.
The new BMW X3 delivered on every promise, combining commanding street presence with smooth, responsive performance that made navigating Dubai’s vibrant roads both effortless and exhilarating.
Cadillac OPTIQ
When we had the chance to take the OPTIQ onto the streets of Dubai, the experience revealed not only the car’s promise, but also Cadillac’s determination to redefine what entry-level luxury means in the age of electrification.
Cadillac is entering a new era of luxury with the reveal of its EV portfolio for 2025, led by the all-new OPTIQ alongside LYRIQ, VISTIQ, ESCALADE IQ and IQL. Each of these models plays a role in shaping Cadillac’s bold future, yet it is the OPTIQ that stands out as the vibrant entry point, designed to welcome a new generation of buyers into the brand’s vision of progressive mobility.
The OPTIQ commands attention with its V-shaped Black Crystal Shield grille, sculpted proportions, and dynamic silhouette. The design speaks with confidence, blending a sporty edge with youthful personality.
Step inside, and the message is equally bold. Cadillac has ensured that the OPTIQ’s cabin is not only luxurious but also progressive. Sustainability and craftsmanship come together in innovative ways. Recycled materials are reimagined into refined surfaces, such as the Cadillac Collection fabric woven from 100 percent recycled yarn, Paper Wood veneer made of tulip wood and newspaper, and Tide fabric details. The seamless design execution continues with a fabric-wrapped instrument panel, creating a single-piece flow that is both elegant and modern. The result is a cabin that feels light, contemporary, and unlike anything Cadillac has done before. At the same time, it does not sacrifice comfort or practicality. Best-in-class cargo space and generous second-row legroom underline the OPTIQ’s commitment to being as functional as it is stylish.
Powered by a standard dual-motor all-wheel- drive system producing 300 horsepower, OPTIQ offers instant torque and an agile, spirited ride. On Dubai’s fast-flowing highways, we immediately noticed how precise and effortless the handling felt. The low center of gravity, supported by the EV battery pack’s structural design, brought stability without diminishing agility.
Technology in the OPTIQ has been designed to enhance rather than overwhelm. At the heart of the cabin sits a stunning 33-inch advanced LED display, bringing together entertainment, navigation, and vehicle functions in a seamless interface. The standard OnStar Connected Services plan offers peace of mind with Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services, and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, while also delivering everyday convenience through vehicle status monitoring, remote commands, and predictive navigation. For those behind the wheel, advanced driver- assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, Blind Zone Steering Assist, and Enhanced Automatic Parking provide reassurance in both city traffic and highway journeys.
Cadillac partnered with AKG to deliver a 19-speaker Studio Audio System enhanced with Dolby Atmos technology. Inside the cabin, the effect is transformative. As we cruised along Dubai’s illuminated boulevards, the audio wrapped around us with a three-dimensional depth, every detail of the music rendered with clarity. It was an immersive layer that turned each drive into an experience, reminding us that luxury lies not only in what we see and touch but also in how we feel.
Ultimately, the OPTIQ is more than just Cadillac’s new electric SUV. It is a statement of intent, aimed squarely at a generation of buyers who want their first luxury vehicle to embody sustainability, innovation, and individuality without compromise.
